Singapore is ready to fine up to S$ 2,000 on students caught for vaping offences for the first time which it said was in line with penalties for people convicted of buying, possessing and using e-vaporisers.
This was announced by the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) in a joint press release on Tuesday (Apr 9), as authorities ramp up efforts to address a growing trend of young people vaping.
Students caught vaping were largely dealt with by the schools, which would inform the parents and confiscate the prohibited product. Schools will also take appropriate disciplinary actions such as suspension, or caning for boys, the Ministry of Education (MOE) told CNA in December.
Recalcitrant offenders may be referred to HSA, which may issue them a fine, the MOE spokesperson said at the time.
“To strengthen deterrence amongst youths against vaping, from March 2024 onwards, all offenders (including first-time offenders in schools and institutes of higher learning) who are caught for purchase, use and possession offences for e-vaporisers are referred to HSA and subjected to a fine of up to S$2,000,” MOH and HSA said on Tuesday.
In the first three months of the year, schools and institutes of higher learning (IHLs) referred about 250 cases to HSA. MOE will be notified when students are caught for vaping offences outside schools.
In October last year, Second Minister for Education Maliki Osman said 800 students from schools and IHLs were caught vaping in 2022. Before 2020, the number of students referred to HSA for vaping offences was fewer than 50.
